Helen and her husband, Michael "Chips" Chippendale, started The Stencil Library in 1988. Chips is very much the backroom talent while Helen is the decorating, teaching and media side of the partnership. Helen is the author of the well-regarded book The Stencilled Home, which she wrote in 1998, and used to showcase her very own home. She recently wrote a follow-up book, Stencil It. When she is not stenciling or teaching for others, Helen conducts classes at her home base in Northern England and runs tours of her stenciled home. She is active in both IDAL and Salon, in which she has gained valuable experience and made lasting friendships.